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Vanderbilt coach James Franklin talks with his players during a timeout in the first half of the BBVA Compass Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Update:

While two media outlets reported today that James Franklin has accepted an offer to be Penn State’s head football coach, one official at Vanderbilt said that is not yet the case.

Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams told the Associated Press this afternoon that Franklin informed him he has not accepted another job offer. Williams said he is aware Franklin has been discussing the Penn State position with university officials there.

CBS Sports and ESPN each reported earlier Thursday the Vanderbilt head coach is expected to accept an offer from Penn State to take over for Bill O’Brien, who resigned Jan. 1 to take the Houston Texans’ head coaching job.

Penn State did not release any official word on a deal being struck with Franklin, but citing a university source, the Centre Daily Times reported tonight that the Penn State Board of Trustees’ compensation committee will be holding a conference call at 9 a.m. on Saturday where it likely will approve the new football coach’s contract, whoever that coach may ultimately be.

The Times-Tribune first reported late Wednesday that Franklin had been offered the Penn State job by university officials during a meeting in Florida. The newspaper has not independently confirmed today’s reports that Franklin accepted the offer.

Two sources close to Penn State's program confirmed to The Times-Tribune late Wednesday night that Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin was offered the head coaching position during an hours-long meeting with the university's search committee in Destin, Fla. Both sources, who spoke on conditions of anonymity because no official announcement had been made, said Franklin is expected to either accept or reject the job today.

The slick Commodores coach, who guided the longtime SEC doormats to a second consecutive nine-win season for the first time in history this past season, began the day with reported plans to interview with the Washington Redskins for their head coaching vacancy. By nightfall, ESPN had reported that Franklin would not be interviewing with Washington or any other NFL franchise, and that next season, he'd be coaching either Vanderbilt or Penn State.

It didn't appear, however, like his current employer was going to allow Franklin to leave for Penn State without something to consider.

Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams told Nashville radio station 104.5 FM Wednesday afternoon that he has spoken with Franklin about staying on with the Commodores in the wake of the news he'd accept the Penn State offer. Williams wouldn't confirm speculation that he offered the man he called "the best college football coach in America" more money, improved facilities or a bigger financial commitment to the program to stay.

But he had no qualms about saying how far he'd go to ensure Franklin continues on the Commodores' sidelines.

"I'd shave my head (to keep Franklin)," Williams said, "and I'd give him the money I saved going to the barber shop." Despite the late meeting and job offer to Franklin, another day passed without a hire, a day after athletic director Dr. David Joyner reiterated his opinion from late last week that the search for the 16th Nittany Lions coach is "robust" and should be over in a matter of days.

Scranton native Mike Munchak waited for word on whether his interview Sunday would lead to an offer. But all that came of Wednesday for him was an interview with the Detroit Lions for their head coaching job, according to The Tennessean. Sources say that, if neither the Nittany Lions or Lions work out, Munchak will gain plenty of interest from teams around the NFL who are searching for offensive line coaches, including the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The longtime offensive coordinator for head coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and in San Francisco, Roman is preparing the 49ers for their NFC Division Playoff meeting with the Panthers in Carolina on Sunday. Roman expressed interest in the job in 2011, when the search committee ultimately gave it to O'Brien.

Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com @psubst on Twitter

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